06-01-2009 - Laserfiche WebLink

Commission Minutes-June 1, 2009 3519 7. COUNTY SPACE NEEDS ANALYSIS, Report provided by consultant County Administrator Bonnie Johnson provided a brief history on the Courthouse and construction of the north and south additions to the current building. She discussed the planning process for a proposed Courthouse west addition and said the Building Committee has been studying space needs for some time. She introduced Consultant Dennis Kimme from Kimme & Associates, who prepared a space needs analysis of the Courthouse and Annex buildings. Mr. Kimme provided a presentation on the space needs analysis to the board. The board contracted for a master plan and space needs analysis on a proposed west addition to the Courthouse. The master plan prioritizes space needs fora 68,000 square foot addition. After speaking with all the commissioners, he outlined some project goals: provide a solution with the best interest of the public while being fiscally responsible; centralize county government space; build an addition in increments if necessary; consider space needs for the next 20 years; and plan for future technologies. Mr. Kimme also studied re-use of space on the third floor of the Courthouse, vacated by Regional Child Support. It was determined the best use of the space was to move a portion of the State's Attorney Office and the Veteran's Service Office to this location, which the commission approved earlier this year. Mr. Kimme provided a brief history on the Courthouse and Annex buildings, which are both fully occupied. He said 28% more space is needed based on the existing component gross square footage (gsf) to the current gsf needs. In addition, 97% more space is needed by the year 2030 using the same figures. He discussed components which may be moved off- site, i.e. Sheriff's Office; certain parts of Social Services through satellite office locations; Veteran's Service; and Extension Services. Mr. Kimme said immediate priorities are to provide space for mechanical, electrical and maintenance needs; move telephone and other technologies out of the basement to an upper level; consider more jury courtrooms with direct secure entry for inmates; provide secure inmate holding and court security support; allocate space for commission offices and meeting room; and re-locate the Sheriff's Office to the Jail site. He also outlined parameters used for a Courthouse west addition which include moving the Sheriff's Office to the jail site; creating an addition no taller than the current Courthouse; limiting use of basement space for parking; preserving green space; connecting the Courthouse and Annex with a walkway; and building an addition with consideration for long-term needs. Mr. Kimme said the focus of Phase I is to address dislocated functions for emergency power, mechanical, electrical, maintenance and garage needs; provide three new jury courtrooms; provide court holding with secure circulation; re-locate Information Technology; provide a space for commission offices, a commission meeting room and offices for administration; and additional parking. Mr. Kimme discussed solutions to space issues at the Annex through satellite offices for Social Services and re-location of Extension Services, Juvenile Court and Probation, and Juvenile Detention.